Foldable umbrella.



E. E. HANSON.

FOLDABLE UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17,1912.

1,036,226. Patented Aug". 20, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 I): M i/or Z77 EJ701150 YfXf/W E. E. HANSON.

FOLDABLE UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION FILED APE.17, 1912.

jilzlewfor l3??? K55 115011 Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATEN'r 'osiuc ERIK E. HANSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

FOLDABLE UMBRELLA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

Application filed April 17, 1912. Serial No. 691,291.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it linown that. I, ERIK E. HANSON, a

' .zen of the United States, residing at the city and in the county Jl' San Francisco and State f California, have invented new and useful Imrn'ovements in Fold'nble Umbrellas, of which the following is a sphoification.

This invention relates to a foldable umbrell-a.

The object of this invention is to provide an umbrella which is so constructed that the spreading ribs and the umbrella rod may be folded so as to occupy small space so that it can be readily packed in suit-cases, valiscs or the like, or carried in the pocket.

A further object is to provide a foldable umbrella of the above character, which is simple in construction and which can be easily and quickly operated both in folding Qllld unfolding.

Further objects will appear in the following specification.

The invention consists of the parts and the eons-trm'tion and combinatioi'i of parts as hereinafter more fully described and thinned, having reference to the accompanying drawings. in which I Figure l is a view of the umbrella in vertical section showing it in its open position. Fig. is a similar view showing the umbrella in the closed position. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the umbrella in its folded position. Fig. l is a detail of the folding lock joint ot the umbrella ribs. Fig.-

.7 is a side view of same. Fig. (3 is an end view. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section of the loldablc umbrella rod in the open or extended position. Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the umbrella rod in its folded closed position. Fig. 9 is a section on the line X-X of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a section on the line Y-Y of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a detail in elevation of the worm sleeve. Fig. 12 is a side view of same. Fig. 13 is a section on the line ZZ of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a detail in elevation showing the telescopic connection of the umbrella handle to the umbrella rod. Fig 15 is a detail in elevatl'on of the telescopic umbrella rod showing the ,device for locking the telescopic members together. i In the drawings the spreading ribs of the umbrella are shown as constructed in two pieces, indicated at A and B, which are pivotally connected together at '2; the rib portion B being pivotally connected at its inner end, as at 3, to a disk 4 in the manner common in the ordinary umbrella construction.

The brace rod of the umbrella is indicated at and is pivotally connected at 6 to the rib portions B and has its inner end pivotally connected at 7 to a swiveled yoke 8, mounted on a flange 9, carried by a worn. sleeve 10. f

The disk 4 is rigidly mounted on a tubule r rod 11 which extends a short distunce on one side of the disk 4 to form the umbrella tip and extends inwardly from the disk 4 a distance approximately one-third of the length of the ordinary umbrella rod. The rod ll is formed with spiral ribs 12 which extend from the underside of the disl: 4 to a point approximately midway of the length of the. rod 11, terminating at the lower end in a collar 13. The sleeve is mounted on the rod 11 and is formed with internal spiral grooves which engage the spiral ribs 12 and is sliduble thereon in such a manner, that when the sleeve 10 reciprocated on the rod ll. it. will be caused to turn a short distance thereon. The purpose of the sleeve 10 to actuate the brace rods 5 so as to open and close the umbrella by the reciprocat-ion of the sleeve; the turning motion of the s we transmitting a. pulling or pushing movement to the brace rods 5 according to the up or down' movement of the sleeve.

Extending into the tubular rod 11 is a similar rod l-l which is formed with a longitudinally extending slot into which a pin l-(S, mounted on the rod 11, extends. which pin 16 serves to lock the rods ll. and l-l together, as will presently be deserilmd. The lower end of the rod .l-l extends into a. tube 17 on which the handle portion 11% of the umbrella is mounted; the handle portion 18 being here shown as consisting of a flat disk having an inwardly extending annular flange on its outer peripluiry. The rod 14 and the tube 17 are connected together by means of a pin 19 on the former which extends through a longitudinally extending slot 20 formed in the latter, as shown in Figs. 7 and 14. Surrounding the rod 14 is a collar 21 which is spaced some distance from the worm sleeve 10 and is connected thereto by means of flexible rods 22;

the sleeve forming a handhold, by means of which the worm sleeve 10 is reciprocated on the rod ll, as will presently be described.

When the umbrella is in the open extended position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7,the

pin 16 extending into a bayonet slot '15 in such a manner that the rods 11 and 14 will be rigidly connected to ther at this point, and the tube 17 will disposedjn its outermost position on the rod .14 with the pin 19 disposed in a bayonet slot 20 as shown in Fig. 14,so a's'to securely lock the sleeve 17 and the rod 14 to ether at this point. Theworm sleeve 10 W1 1 now be disposed at its lowermost position on the'spiral ribs 12 ad'aceritrto the collar 18.

When t e worm sleeve 10 is in its lowermost position the brace rods 5 and the rib portions A-fi will be disposed in their extended positions; the rib portion A being. locked to the portion B by means of a lockiug device carried by the rib portion B. This locking device 18 shown in detail in Fi 4, 5 and 0 and consists of a ferrule 23 rigidly mounted on the rib portion B. This ferrule is formed with a longitudinally extending curved slot 24 on one side thereof into which the rib portion A extends, as shown in Fig. 4; the portions of the ferrule extending on each side of the rib ortion A and pro ecting over the undersi e thereof actin to securely lock the'rib portions A and to ther.

In closin the umbrella, the worm sleeve 10 is move u wardly on the spiral ribs 12 by means of t e sleeve 21 and ribs 22; the worm sleeve 10 in traveling upward on the ipiral ribs 12 turning a proximately oneourth of a revolution rom the position shown in Fig. 9 to that illustrated in Fig. The worm sleeve-10 in rotating carries the inner ends of the brace rods 5 therewith. When the worm sleeve 10 has reached its uppermost position adjacent to the disk 4. the inner ends of the brace rods 5 will have moved around the rod 11 nearly one-fourth the distance therearound. By reason of the outer ends of the brace rods 5 being connected to the ribs A-B, the movement of the brace rods 6 around the rod 11 will exert an inward pull upon the spreadin ribs A-B, so as to cause the latter to folfi against the brace rods 5, as shown in Fig. 2; the brace rods 5 then assuming an an ular position in relation to the rod 11 an the ribs A-B. The swiveled connection of the brace rods 5 to the flange 9 admits of the sleeve 10 turning without twisting the brace rods. This action of the sleeve '10 or the brace rods 5 in moving up on the rod 11 serves to theoretically decrease the length of the latter and increases their lengths when the sleeve is moved down so as to spread the ribs A-B.

Means are provided for temporarilglocking the worm sleeve 10 adjacent tot e disk 4 so as to prevent the umbrella ribs A-B from, spreading when the umbrella is inverted. This means is here shown as consisting of a pawl 25 mounted on the worm sleeve 10, with its outer end extending through a slot in the worm sleeve 10 so as to engage a notch 26 formed in one of the ribs 12 when the worm sleeve 10 is n its uppermost position adjacent to the disk 4. A sprin 2 bears against the inner end of the paw 25 in such a manner as to normally'retain the outer end in its innermost position. Mounted on the worm sleeve 10 1s a loose collar 28 to which the rods 22 are connected; this collar 28 having a short reciprocal movement on the worm sleeve 10. Formed on the collar 28 is a beveled tongue 29 which extends over the inner end of the pawl 25, as shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13.

When the sleeve 21 is pulled outwardly to open the umbrella from the position shown in Fi 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1, the co lar 28 moves a short distance on the sleeve 10 so as to cause the tongue 29 to bear down upon the inner end of the pawl 25 and thereby move the latter out of en gement with the notch 26 on the rib 12 an ree the worm sleeve 10, so that a. continued pull upon the sleeve 21 will move lilo worm sleeve 10 downward] on the spiral ribs 12, thereby rotating t e worm s eeve 10 and the flan e 9 approximately onefourth of a revtfiution from the position shown in Fig. 10 to that shown in Fig. 9 and spreading the umbrella ribs AB into their open positions. This spreading of the umbrella ribs into the open position is occasioned by the rotary movement given the sleeve 10 as it moves downward on the spiral ribs 12; the combined downward and rotary movement of the sleeve 10 acting to move the brace rods 5 longitudinally a inst the spreadin ribs B, with the resu t that the latter will be rocked outwardly on their pivots 8.

In opening the umbrella, the rib portions A are moved from the osition shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in big. 2, by hand, the rib portions A, however, not extending into the slot 24 until the rib portions B are about to assume their spread positions. The rib portions 13 in movin outward carry the rib portions A therewith, and as they near their extended positions the latter enter the slots 24 by reason of the slots 24. beivrz g1 disposed below the rib portions A.

en it is desired to fold the umbrella. it is first closed into the osition shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the ri portions A are disengaged from the ferrules 23 by giving them a slight twist so that they will pass throu h the curved slot 24 formed in the ferru es and thereby permit of the rib portions A being folded back over the rib portions B into the position shown in Fig. 3. The pin 19 on the rod 14 is then moved from the bayonet slot 20 into the slot 20 so that the tube 17 may be telescoped with the rod 14, as shown in Fig. 8, and the rod is turned so that the pin 16 on thetubular rod 11 will pass from the bayonet slot 15 into the slot 15 so that the rod is may be moved endwise into the tubular rod 11, as shown in Fig. 8. When this is done, the jointed ends of the spreading ribs A-B will extend into the flange formed on the umbrella handle 18, as shown in Fig. 3, thereby locking the umbrella in its folded position. The umbrella ribs AB are covered with a suitable fabric in the usual manner.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a foldable umbrella, a telescopic, tubular umbrella rod, spreading ribs pivot-- ally connected to the umbrella rod, spiral ribs formed on the umbrella rod, a worm sleeve slidable on and engaged by said spiral ribs, and brace rods connecting the worm sleeve to the spreading ribs.

2. In a foldable umbrella, a telescopic, tubular umbrella rod, spreading ribs pivotally connected to the umbrella rod, spiral ribs formed on the umbrella rod, a worm sleeve slidable on and engaged by said spiral ribs, brace rods connecting the worm sleeve to the spreading ribs, and swiv'eled yokes carried by the Worm sleeve to which the inner ends of the brace rods are attached 3. In a foldable umbrella, a telescopic, tubular umbrella rod, spreading ribs pivotally connected to the umbrella rod, spiral ribs formed on the umbrella rod, a worm sleeve slidable on and engaged by said spiral ribs, brace rods connecting the worm sleeve to th spreading ribs, swiveled yokes car ried by the Worm sleeve to which the inner ends of the brace rods'are attached, and means for locking the worm sleeve to the umbrella rod, consisting of a pawl mounted on the worm sleeve, and a notch formed in the umbrella rod.

4. In a toldable umbrella, a telescopic, tubular umbrella rod, spreading ribs pivotally connected to the umbrella rod, spiral ribs formed on the umbrella rod, a Worm. sleeve slidable on and engaged by said spiral ribs, brace rods connecting the worm sleeve to the spreading ribs, swiveled yokes carried by the worm sleeve to which the inner ends of the brace rods are attached, means for locking the worm sleeve to the umbrella rod, consisting of a pawl mounted on the worm sleeve, and a notch formed in the umbrella rod, and means for disengaging the pawl from the notch, consisting of a collar slidable on the worm sleeve and means for reciprocating said collar.

5. In a foldable umbrella, a telescopic, tubular umbrella rod, spreading ribs pivotally connected to the umbrella rod, said spreading ribs pivotally divided adjacent to their centers, means for locking the divided portions of the spreading ribs together in their open position, spiral ribs formed on the umbrella. rod, a worm sleeve slidable on and engaged by said spiral ribs, brace rods connecting the Worm sleeve to the spread ing ribs, swiveled yolces carried by the worm sleeve to which the inner ends of the brace rods are attached, means for locking the worm sleeve to the uu'ibrella rod, consisting of a pawl mounted on the worm sleeve, and a notch formed in the umbrella rod, and meansfor disengaging the pawl from the notch, consisting of a collar slidable on the worm sleeve and means for reciprocating said collar.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERIK E. HANSON.

Witnesses 'WALTER REIME'BS, GENEVIEVE S DoNnLrN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for live cents eaeh, by addressing the axnmissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G." 

